Roadmap to Reduce Toxic Pesticides in California
California unveils bold plan to sustainably manage
pests and eliminate high-risk pesticides by 2050
Leaders representing diverse interests reach consensus on a path to move the state to sustainable practices in urban and agricultural settings
VENTURA, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2023) – On January 26 state leaders unveiled a roadmap of ambitious goals and actions to accelerate California’s transition to sustainable pest management and eliminate prioritized high-risk pesticides by 2050. The Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap for California (SPM Roadmap) was developed by a cross-sector Work Group of stakeholders facilitated by the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) with the California Environmental Protection Agency (CALEPA) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). It charts a course toward sustainable pest management in agricultural and urban settings. Documents available at https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/docs/sustainable_pest_management_roadmap/
The Roadmap was developed by a consensus process starting in May 2021 by the Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Work Group of members representing conventional and organic agriculture, urban environments, community and environmental groups, tribes, researchers, and government. Pest Control Advisor Ron Whitehurst, co-owner of Rincon-Vitova Insectaries in Ventura, is among the 25 statewide members of the SPM Work Group. Eight more members formed an urban subgroup. Whitehurst states, "The experience on the Work Group gave me an increased appreciation for the group process in tackling the messy and challenging problems society faces from the powerful influence of vested interests on pesticide policy. It has been a privilege to share my experience of increasing biodiversity to promote biological control to reduce pest problems. We know how to help farms transition away from chemical pesticides and hold pests at low levels so they do not warrant treatment. We need five things to grow a plant, air (CO2), water, sunshine, a little mineral from living soil, and a seed or cutting. Every crop grown in California can be grown without any toxic pesticides or chemical fertilizers.”
Yana Garcia, California’s Secretary for Environmental Protection, heralded the SPM Roadmap at a press conference on January 26. She said, “If we truly want to build a healthy and safe California for all, we must phase out and replace the highest-risk pesticides, and the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap is a bold, new plan to get us there.” CDFA Secretary Karen Ross added, “The Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap recognizes how the management of pest pressures is strongly interconnected with resilient farms and ecosystems, and the health of farmworkers and communities. We have a lot of work ahead to implement the approaches outlined in the roadmap.”
DPR Director Julie Henderson said, “Successfully transitioning to sustainable pest management requires collective action. The critical actions outlined in the roadmap include prioritizing prevention, coordinating state-level leadership, investing in building knowledge about sustainable pest management, improving the state’s registration and evaluation process to bring more sustainable alternatives to market and enhancing monitoring and statewide data collection to better inform actions.”
Among the many recommendations in the Roadmap, Whitehurst looks forward to future DPR removal of registrations for highly hazardous materials and more requirement for training of licensed Pest Control Advisors in the principles of agroecology. He welcomes the University of California reinvesting in biological control and collective action involving Resource Conservation Districts and California State University and community college educators facilitating farmer-to-scientist and farmer-to-farmer consultation. He explains, “We can learn together how to work with nature instead of beating her into submission. I applaud the Roadmap’s recognition of the benefits of biodiversity and the value of farmers’ experiential knowledge as well as Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Other priorities I see are more training in biological control monitoring and providing incentives to reduce risks for transition from chemical to biological methods.”
DPR opened a public comment period on the prioritization and implementation of next steps outlined in the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap. The comment period will close at 5 p.m. on March 13, 2023. Comments can be sent to alternatives@cdpr.ca.gov or by mail to 1001 I Street, P.O. Box 4015, Sacramento, CA 95812-401. Comments received will be considered as part of the state-level coordination on implementing the recommendations in the Roadmap.
DPR and partner agencies will host webinars during February to discuss the recommendations and actions outlined in the Sustainable Pest Management Roadmap. Information will be available on DPR’s website.
Whitehurst is available to discuss the Roadmap and its range of pathways that make this visionary goal possible to end the legal use of hazardous pesticides on farms, while supporting agriculture, food systems and community well-being. He commends Governor Newsom for recognizing the need to accelerate a holistic approach to safer, more sustainable pest management. On January 20 he moderated a panel “Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Roadmap” at the annual EcoFarm Conference. Link: https://youtu.be/XcAlkfZybGI
Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc. produces beneficial insects for biological control of pest insects working with farmers since 1950 to get off of toxic pesticides by programs incorporating habitat enhancement and cultural approaches along with augmentation with beneficial organisms as needed. Located north of Ventura the insectary features solar hydronic heating, solar electric, composting, and a developing food forest.
CONTACT:
Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc.,
Ron Whitehurst, Pest Control Advisor
Phone Mobile 805-746-5368 Office 805-643-5407
Email bugnet@rinconvitova.com